Five seeking Vanderburgh County Clerk's office

EVANSVILLE - There is no shortage of candidates vying to become the next Vanderburgh County Clerk.

Count it at five.

"Lord, I don't know," said County Clerk Susan Kirk when asked about interest in the seat she holds. "I was asked two times before I ran for this to run for clerk and I told them you couldn't pay me enough money to be the clerk," she said jokingly.

Three Republicans and two Democrats will square off in the May 8 primary for a chance appear on the November ballot to lead the 53-employee office, which oversees elections and maintains court files. The office received an average of 60,000 new filings per year since 2007, or about 165 new filings a day.

Kirk, a Republican, will have reached her eight-year term limit come December. She's running for county treasurer against incumbent Rick Davis. The last Democrat to win the County Clerk's seat was Betty Knight Smith in 1992.

The candidate's backgrounds range from market research to real estate to government. Most have experience in the public sector, and one has experience at the clerk's office.

Some of the candidates said that Kirk has done a good job running the office and they would like to keep that up.

But the candidates also mentioned some aspects they would alter, from job training to technology to public-feedback systems.

J.D. Strouth (R)

J.D. Strouth is president of the Knight Township Board and a project director at Product Acceptance and Research.

Strouth said his emphasis will be on elections, and he acknowledged Kirk's successes.

"Just because things have been operating fairly and smoothly for the past seven years doesn't mean it would continue to do that in the future," he said. "That's why I am running: To ensure that we do continue to have clean and smooth elections."

The 50-year-old said he would vigorously fight voter fraud and actively promote vote centers. He also said he would seek cost-savings and other efficiencies at the office.

Strouth said he would place suggestion boxes at the clerk's office and actively review suggestions.

"I know I'm not going to have all the answers," he said, "but I figure if I'm open to public input, I can pretty much have broad, good suggestions and answers for problems that may come up in the future."

Strouth said his passion for public service began during his Boy Scout years. Since the early 1990s the Eagle Scout has volunteered with some 15 different organizations including neighborhood association, Christian and parent-teacher groups.

"My 20-plus years private-sector experience in opinion research has conditioned me to be focused on meeting customer needs," he said.

Debbie Stucki (R)

Debbie Stucki, who was supervisor over the misdemeanor/traffic division at the clerk's office for six years, said she wouldn't change much.

"I've already got some established connections," said Stucki, "I think I can start Day 1 and just continue with what Suzie's got."

The 51-year-old said she's the only candidate with experience on the day-to-day inner workings of the office, and she already has connections with the employees, the court officials and others who deal closely with the office.

Stucki began working in the public sector in 1985 at the Vanderburgh County recorder's office. She spent 16 years there, eventually reaching the chief deputy's spot.

She was appointed to her position at the clerk's office by former Clerk Marsha Abell, and in 2006 she left to run for Center Township assessor.

She won, but that office consolidated in 2009 and she now works at the Vanderburgh County assessor's office.

Stucki said public service is a calling for her, and if elected, getting the word out about voting and customer service would continue to be priorities.

"Just to treat people fair," she said about her vision for customer service. "I know a lot of people are not there for a good reason all the time."

Heather Zoss (R)

Heather Zoss, 37, a manager at her husband's law office, said she's not happy with the clerk's office in its current form.

"I'm frustrated," said Zoss. "And I think things can be more efficient in the clerk's office for the public and attorneys."

The Boonville High School graduate said she's been dealing with the clerk's office since the mid-1990s, and the office does not come across as user-friendly or helpful.

"Or if you do get help, (employees are) irritated that they're having to help you," she said. "And that's because they're overworked."

Zoss said she would address the issue by having people who aren't busy assist those who are.

"With the county budget restraints," said Zoss, "you have to be able to job share."

Zoss said she has10 years of experience managing people, issues and administrative tasks at Zoss Law Office, LLC., and, as clerk, she would weed out inefficiencies where she could.

Zoss said she has "no problem hiring or firing," and that she would see to it that the employees' voices are heard.

She said she if she becomes clerk, she would not be constrained to her office and would help out in the trenches.

Carl Culley, a curator at Curran Miller Auction/Realty, Inc., said he would embrace technology as clerk.

The 68-year-old said he sold accounting and inventory software to automotive companies for more than 25 years, and he would use that background in technology.

"I think that's one of the key components that I bring to the table," he said, "is to able to ascertain and analyze various software."

Culley also has experience in the public sector. He worked as chief deputy at the Vanderburgh County recorder's office in the mid-1960s and a revenue specialist in the Florida Department of Revenue.

The Reitz High School graduate lived in Wisconsin and Florida before returning to Evansville three years ago, and he said he offers the experience of seeing how other communities function.

An Air Force veteran, Culley said he would also emphasize customer service.

"I think, in some cases, when some people come to the court house, maybe they never had the experience of dealing with various offices," he said. "I want to try to make that experience a positive experience if at all possible, providing assistance to all the citizens."

Chris Walsh (D)

Chris Walsh, who works as a manager at the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility, said one of his goals is to "rewrite all the job descriptions and bring (the office) into the 21st century."

The 58-year-old said the plan is to reconcile the actual duties with the duties written on paper so that County Council members know exactly what they're gaining and losing when it comes to decisions about filling vacancies.

Vacancies at the clerk's and other offices have been issues recently as council members have been scrutinizing requests to fill vacancies in an effort to save money.

He also said not filling vacancies is an issue that may likely happen in the future, so he's going to look "to bring technology to the department to make it the most efficient that I can."

Walsh, a former Vanderburgh County Highway Department superintendent, said his management experience surpasses that of his peers.

"I've always managed large groups of people," he said. "And there's a skill set that it takes to do that, and some of it is experience."

Walsh touted the challenges he overcame at the Highway Department, particularly those related to resources management and staying within budget.

He said he's ready for the challenges at the clerk's office, and he said has experience and connections on his side.

"I know a lot of the people, personally, on the County Council," he said, "and have had to go before them before as a department head."